Bengalureans make the most of weekends with day trips

For Surbhi Rastogi Gupta, meeting her family after a good one year meant making memories. Keeping her husband's busy schedule and the pandemic restrictions in mind, a car trip to Lepakshi Village and Nandi Temple seemed like the perfect plan tailor-made for the occasion. "We planned a few one-day trips for a change in our schedule, as my six-year-old son Ivaan needed a break as well. And since my family had flown down from Delhi, we wanted them to enjoy the pleasant weather through the car drives," she says.

And for Kavitha Singh a two-hour-long drive to Dodda Aalada Mara (Big Banyan Tree) was just what she needed to bond with her husband. Not just Surbhi and Kavitha, many Bengalureans are making the most of the relaxed travel restrictions and are setting travel goals with short trips to nearby scenic spots or cafés to unwind.



Destinations for all kinds of travellers
Whether you're the type for whom holidays mean taking innumerable selfies against beautiful backdrops or the type that just wants to have some good food and relax — there are no dearth of weekend designation options. "For a quick weekend trip with the family, we recently headed to an organic farm, retreat and café Rocky Ridge Café at Denkanikota-Palacode state highway, which is 77 kilometres from the city. It was a great way to bond with parents and kids at the same time," says 37-year-old Girish K. Hesaraghatta, which is around 30 kilometres from Bengaluru, is a cyclist's paradise. This made it the perfect getaway for cyclist Siddalinga Swamy. "The ride around Hesaraghatta Lake is extremely rejuvenating. The lush greenery, with fantastic tree cover, grassland and lakes on this route is a welcome break. There is also a temple on this stretch which is another good place to relax. This stretch takes about 1.5 hours by cycle. But cyclists who want longer rides can take a detour towards Gopalaswamy Temple, the mini forest stretch that crosses Doddaballapur Road, and then come around Chikka Madhure, thereby covering a good 50 kilometres through amazing countryside. Chikka Madhure also has good breakfast joints," he says.



Abhijith Padival and his gang of fellow riders eagerly await Sunday for their breakfast ride. "We meet at the Yeshwanthpur toll and ride out of the city. Luckily there are many nice eating joints enroute to make our rides memorable. Bikers are always looking for nice empty stretches with minimal traffic," says Abhijith. For bikers, short trips mean riding at least 100-150 kilometres.



Pet-friendly spots are a hit
The lockdowns were bearing down hard on Tamaghna Adhikari's outdoorsy rottweiler. So, he decided to take him camping to a farm that is located 1.5 hours from the city called Backyard Camp. "We bonded with other pet parents there who also love to camp. Luckily, there are quite a few camping spots and cafés around Bengaluru that are pet-friendly, where you can unwind with your pets," she says.

Naturalist Kaushik Bajibab

, the founder of one such camping spot, Backyard Camp, says that his camp sees not just young couples, but entire families on day trips. "Everyone is keen to have different experiences. Nearly 70%-80% of people who choose to go camping are pet parents," he says.


Age no bar for short trips
Girish Krishnamurthy's Rocky Ridge Café has witnessed a good turnout with the relaxations on cross-border travel restrictions post the second lockdown. Interestingly, it is not just couples, but many senior citizens and families with toddlers and adolescent kids doing one-day trips to the farm. "The biking community is also making the best use of their weekends and for many, the café is a pitstop."


Box: Breakfast Ride Getaways from Bengaluru

1) Location – Sri Laxmi Bhavan Tiffin Room, Chitradurga
Must Try- Khali Dosa and Masala Dosa

Distance from Bengaluru – 201 kms

Highway – NH 4

2) Location – Swamy Hotel, Hiriyur
Must Try – Ghee Dosa and Pongal

Distance from Bengaluru – 159 kms

Highway – NH 4


3) Location – Kadambam, Channapatna
Must Try – Sakkare Pongal, Khara Pongal and Puliyogare

Distance from Bengaluru – 66 kms

Highway – SH 17/NH 275



4) Idly Mane, Harohalli
Run by a husband and wife, Idly Mane serves ‘soft-as-butter‘ thatte idlis along with chutney and sagu (potato-based curry)

Location – Idly Mane Harohalli, Kanakapura Road

Must

Try - Thatte Idli

and Vada

Distance from Bengaluru – 40 kms

Highway – NH 209



6) Location – Subbanna Mess, Melkote
Must Try – Sakkare Pongal,

Puliogare

and Thatte Idli

Distance from Bengaluru – 130 - 150 kms (Depending on the route)

Highway – From Yadiyur NH75 and NH150A.

From Mandya NH275



7)

Location - Shashi

’s Hotel, KSRTC Bus Stand, Nittur
Must Try – Lemon Garlic Rice,

Thatte Idli

and Rava Idli

Distance from Bengaluru - 100 kms

Highway – NH 206



8) Location – Hotel Prasanna, near Kaggalipura Lake Bund
Must Try – Thatte Idli with and Poori with Sagu

Distance from Bengaluru - 35 kms

Highway – NH 209



(Recommendations by avid biker Abhijith Padival)